Zoning change paves way for Sheetz gas station in Bethlehem Township

The William Penn Highway site will include a 24-hour gas station and convenience store.

June 05, 2012|By Charles Malinchak, Special to The Morning Call

Bethlehem Township commissioners met with praise and some criticism Monday before approving a zoning law change allowing the construction of a 24-hour gas station-convenience store and a retail store complex on William Penn Highway.

The estimated $17 million complex, to be called William Penn Commons, will be on about 9 acres across from Farmersville Elementary School and will include a Sheetz gas station/convenience store and nearly 30,000 square feet of retail building space.

"Thousands of cars pass there every day. This will give them just another place to get gas. I think it belongs in this area and I can't think of better place for it,'' Commissioner Mike Hudak said.

In changing or amending the zoning ordinance, the area roughly from Route 33 to Reeve Drive would move from light industrial to a commercial enhancement overlay district.

Township Manager Howard Kutzler said the district allows denser development and calls for specific design criteria to make the buildings and landscape more of a village style rather than plain industrial structures.

Some of the criticism came from township resident and developer Abe Atiyeh, who unsuccessfully tried to construct a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center on Dewberry Avenue in Bethlehem, which is mostly a residential area.

Atiyeh said the change does not enhance the area and instead, "It corrupts the neighborhood.''

"A 24-hour Sheetz? Imagine the guy next door or down the street looks next door and sees a 24-hour gas station ... all the traffic and crime,'' he said.

"How would you like it if you lived there?,'' he asked.

Commissioner Paul Weiss said township police researched crime records for the past 10 years of 24-hour businesses, including the Sunoco station several blocks from the proposed Sheetz, and several stores such as WaWa and Turkey Hill in Hanover Township, Northampton County, and found no increase of crime.

Also disagreeing with the zoning change was resident Barry Roth who said such a development would create significantly more traffic and a hazard to elementary school students wanting to cross the road.

Santino Calantoni, owner of William Penn Court apartments east of the proposed development, favored the overlay district.

"This is good for the township, good for the area. I feel very positive,'' he said.

The only commissioner voting against it was Phil Barnard, who was elected in November and said part of his campaign was to try to reduce traffic on township roads.

Before voting, he said, "This is definitely a concern. I see kids waiting out there and I see people doing more than the speed limit.''

Kutzler said road improvements are required of the developer to reduce congestion and move traffic safely, using devices like traffic lights and realigning driveways and lanes.

Lou Pektor and Novak Ventures, both of Bethlehem, will develop the project. Earlier this year, Ed Novak said tenants are being sought for the complex, but there is a contract with Sheetz and they were in negotiations with Walgreens.